The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of over ₦32 billion to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and expand health insurance coverage nationwide. The approval was granted at the fourth quarterly meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) for 2025, held on Friday in Abuja and convened by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Speaking at the meeting, Ms Kachallom Daju, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said the fourth release of funds under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to regular funding, transparency,…
Author: Newsdesk
The Adamawa State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has commenced the revitalization of six Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across five Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. Dr Suleiman Bashir, Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ADSPHCDA), made the disclosure on Friday during the PHC Revitalization, Kickstarting and Formal Handover of Project Sites in Yola. Bashir said the project, implemented through ADSPHCDA, aims to reduce maternal and child mortality by improving access to quality primary healthcare services. He noted that the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery. According to him, the handover…
The Bauchi State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on Friday reviewed and validated the Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) for 2026–2030 to expand access to affordable child-spacing services across the state. Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Sani Dambam, said the plan would provide policy direction for effective family planning service delivery once approved by the State Executive Council (SEC). He commended UNFPA for its support in providing family planning commodities, describing the partnership as crucial to expanding access for women and adolescents in primary healthcare facilities across…
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr Dennis Idahosa, has directed that primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in rural communities be strengthened to ensure accessible and quality healthcare for residents across the state. The directive was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, following the fourth quarterly meeting of the Edo State Primary Health Care Taskforce, which Idahosa chaired on Friday in Benin. The deputy governor described rural healthcare delivery as critical to improving health outcomes and challenged local government chairmen to deepen access to essential services, stressing that governance must deliver visible impact at…
A non-governmental organization, African Food Changemakers (AFC), has reaffirmed its commitment to building a community of one million entrepreneurs across Africa’s agrifood landscape. The Executive Chair of AFC, Dr Temi Adegoroye, gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja at the organizations 2025 End-of-Year Agri-Food Entrepreneurs Mixer. The event was themed “From Celebration to Strategy: Strengthening Africa’s Agri-Food Future.” Adegoroye said the initiative would empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) while strengthening food security and climate resilience across Africa’s food ecosystem. He disclosed that AFC currently has over 8,500 members drawn from 49 African countries, noting that the organisation aims to…
UNICEF, in partnership with the Taraba State Government, on Friday awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of 11 Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across six local government areas (LGAs) of the state, with funding support from the Global Fund. Speaking at the event in Jalingo, the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, urged the contractors to execute the projects with honesty, dedication and professionalism. Rafique said the official handover of the selected PHC facilities by the Taraba State Government to UNICEF, through the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bondiya Buma, marked a significant collaboration aimed at saving the lives…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says Lassa fever has claimed 195 lives across 21 states by Epidemiological Week (Epi Week) 49 of 2025, representing a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.2 per cent. The NCDC disclosed this in its latest Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epi Week 49, covering Dec. 1 to Dec. 7, 2025, released on its official website on Sunday. According to the report, 33 new confirmed cases and eight deaths were recorded during the reporting week, up from 24 confirmed cases reported in Epi Week 48. The newly confirmed cases were reported from…
African governments and development partners have taken a decisive step toward tackling one of the continent’s most damaging livestock diseases with the launch of a High-Level Continental Advisory Committee aimed at eradicating Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) by 2030. The move, spearheaded by the African Union Commission (AUC) through the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and the Pan-African PPR Secretariat, brings together senior political leaders, regional economic blocs, global animal health agencies and development partners to provide strategic oversight and sustain high-level political commitment in the fight against the disease. PPR, a viral disease that primarily affects sheep and goats, poses…
At just 22, Matlhane Thabiso Maphoto is shaping the future of farming in South Africa. Born in Tzaneen, Limpopo, he is the founder of AgricShare Africa, a digital platform helping rural farmers connect to markets and opportunities. His work has earned him recognition in the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans (Agriculture, 2025), a place in the GradStar Top 100, and honours as a SAICA Student Leadership Award finalist, South African Agriculture Awards nominee, and MEF Excellence in Agriculture nominee. AgricShare Africa is central to Maphoto’s mission to drive collaboration and pan-African transformation in agriculture. Inspired by his…
Sudan farmers are set to benefit from 37,000 metric tons of high-quality fertilizers and 5,200 metric tons of Irish seed potato delivered to Port Sudan by Sustain Africa, a pan-African initiative hosted by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) —and implementing partner CIMMYT, marking a critical step in supporting the recovery of agricultural production in Sudan. More than two years of ongoing conflict have left the country with the worst food security conditions in decades. Sudan’s typical imports of about 450,000 metric tons of fertilizer annually fell to an estimated 50,000 metric tons in 2024. The shipments form part of…